Marine Operations - Senior Deckhand

Hornblower Corp; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornblower Group in San Diego is seeking a Senior Deckhand to supervise deckhands, stand bridge watches, and lead in emergencies, exemplifying our RESPECT SERVICE SYSTEM. You will ensure vessel safety and guest hospitality, coordinate tasks, and maintain equipment while complying with company policies.

Requires HS Diploma, TWIC and CPR/First Aid certification, valid driver's license, and availability for weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma required.
• TWIC card or ability to obtain and maintain.
• First Aid/CPR certification or ability to obtain and maintain.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Assign deck crew tasks and provide direction.
• Stand bridge watch and assist in navigation and maneuvering of the vessel.
• Take command if captain becomes incapacitated.
• Provide exceptional hospitality to guests and coworkers.
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the vessel.
• Load or unload materials from vessels.
• Handle lines to moor vessels to pier when necessary.
• Stand watch to identify obstructions and navigational aids.
• Assist Engineer to operate and maintain ship equipment.
• Escalate mechanical or maintenance issues to the Director of Marine.

Skills

Customer service

Passenger interaction

Education

HS Diploma

Job description

Posted Friday, July 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems . Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfrontlogisticsand management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation,ticketingand website integration services for clients in the transportation,tourismand entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’sadditionalcorporate officesresidein San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visithornblowercorp.com.

Position Summary:

Do you share Hornblower's passion for providing amazing experiences? If you’re an enthusiastic team player who thrives in an environment where communication, creativity, and cooperation are encouraged, this may just be the opportunity for you.

The Senior Deckhand serves as a crew member with greater experience, knowledge, and responsibility than required to serve in the established Deckhand position as outlined in United States Coast Guard Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) 1-91. The Senior Deckhand is responsible for supervising the work of other deckhands during normal operations and will act as a team leader in response to emergency situations. The Senior Deckhand sets the example regarding company policies, procedures, and standards.

The right person will be adaptable, dynamic, and embody Hornblower’s RESPECT SERVICE SYSTEM.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assign deck crew tasks and provide direction
• Stand bridge watch and assist in the safe navigating and maneuvering of the vessel
• Take command if captain becomes incapacitated
• Provide exceptional hospitality to guests and coworkers as prescribed in Our Respect Service System (RSS)
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the vessel
• Load or unload materials from vessels
• Handle lines to moor vessels to pier when necessary
• Stand watch in order to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids such as buoys and lighthouses
• Provide assistance to Engineer to operate and maintain ship equipment such as engines and generators, and winches
• Escalate any mechanical or maintenance issues to the Director of Marine

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Be prepared to begin work at scheduled time
• Maintain uniform and personal grooming in compliance with appearance standards
• Additional job duties as assigned

Requirements & Qualifications:

• HS Diploma
• Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC Card), and/or ability to obtain and maintain
• Valid First Aid/CPR Certification, and/or ability to obtain and maintain
• Valid Driver’s License
• Copy of DD214 if Veteran status
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to effectively interact with the passengers, Riders, and fellow employees.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, quickly changing environment.
• Minimum three (3) months experience as a Deckhand.
• Submit to and pass alcohol and drug tests as mandated by the USCG including but not limited to pre- employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident/incident testing.
• Will be required to be available for work weekends and on all major holidays.

The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.